Fuel-economizer.



E. B. FREEMAN.

FUEL BGONOMIZER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25. 1908.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co, WASHINGTON. D4 c E. B. FREEMAN. FUEL EGONOMIZER.

- APPLICATION 211.21) NOV. 25, 1908. 1,074,855, Patented 0011.7,1913.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

cuLuMmA PLANOGRAP" 00.. WASHINGTON. n. c

UNTTED STATES .PATNT CFFI QEE.

ERNEST B. FREEMAN, OF DEDI-IAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO B. F. STURTEVANT COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FUEL-ECONOMIZER.

Application filed November 25, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST B. FREEMAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Dedham, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Economizers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to fuel economizers or feed water heaters such as are employed to utilize the heat contained in waste prod ucts of combustion. These fuel economizers are usually constructed with upper and lower header sections, each upper section being connected with the corresponding lower section by a series of vertical pipes. The lower header sections are in communication with each other through manifolds or wall boxes, to which each header is connected, and which are also connected together. The upper headers are in communication with each other, either directly through openings formed in the sides of the header sections, or through manifolds or branch pipes to which each header section is connected. In cconomizers of this type as heretofore constructed it has been customary to provide for the expansion and contraction due to the variation in the temperature to which the apparatus is subjected, by employing gaskets in the joints between the directly communicating header sections, or between the header sections and manifolds or branch pipes and between the sections of the manifolds. It has been found that under the high pressures used in modern practice, and under the wide fluctuations in pressures and temperatures to which economizers are subjected, that these gasket joints are liable to give way or become defective, and the presence of such joints has come to be a serious defect in economizer constructions.

It is accordingly one of the objects of the present invention to provide for the proper connecting together of the header and manifold sections without interfering with the necessary expansion and contraction of the parts, and without the necessity of employing objectionable gasket joints.

To this end one feature of the invention contemplates the provision in an economizer in which the header sections are in communi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913. Serial No. 464,464.

cation with each other through manifold or branch pipe sections, such communications being established by means of coupling pipes provided at their ends with joint seats adapted to engage joint seats in the headers and manifolds respectively, and acting to connect each header with the manifold. In thus connecting the header sections and manifolds or branch pipes by coupling pipes, metal to metal taper joints may be employed, which require no packing or gaskets. The use of such coupling pipes of different lengths also enables alternate header sections to be conveniently coupled with the manifold in econo-mizers in which the vertical pipes in succeeding sections are staggered or arranged so that the pipes in one section are opposite the spaces between the pipes in the adjacent section. The coupling pipes are preferably in the form of bends or elbows, so that the joint seats at the ends of the pipes are not opposite or in register with each other, since such form of coupling pipe is well adapted to spring slightly to accommodate a relative movement of the parts due to expansion and contraction. The use of this form of coupling pipe for connecting the header sections and manifolds also facilitates the accurate positioning of the header sections to bring the circulating tubes in adjacent sections into proper relation for the operation of the tube cleaning scrapers in setting up the apparatus. The pipes, headers and manifolds of economizers are made of cast iron, and the headers and vertical pipes are assembled to form the sections of the economizer in the factory, these sections and the manifolds or branch pipes being assembled in setting up the economizer where it is to be used. There are necessarily, therefore, inaccuracies or variations in the sections and in the coupling pipes. In set ting up the economizer the coupling pipe for connecting any header section with the manifold may be selected which will bring the vertical pipes in that section into proper relation with the vertical pipes in the adjacent section. That is to say, if the first coupling pipe tried does not bring the header section into the proper relative position, other coupling pipes may be tried until one is found in which the joints at the end of the pipe are in proper relation to bring the header into its proper position.

A further feature of the invention contemplates the provision in an economizer in which the header sections are in communication through a sectional manifold or seats, two of which are arranged to engage joint seats on two adjacent header sections,

and the other two of which are arranged to engage joint seats on the adjacent ends of two manifold sections. In its preferred form, this coupling is in the form of two bends or elbows communicating between their ends through a connecting pipe which is preferably cast integral with the two bends. l/Vi'th this construction, an expansible coupling is provided which may be connected with the header and manifold sections by metal to metal joints, and which is well adapted to spring or bend during the contraction and expansion of the parts. The joint seats may be and preferably are arranged to rotatively engage the parts to be coupled, anda tight joint is maintained during the contraction and expansion of the parts. The employment of this double coupling in connection with. coupling pipes for connecting the header sections to the manifolds or branch pipes also enables an 660110". mizer to be readily changed either in setting it up or after it has been installed, to secure either a natural circulation or a forced circulation through the economizer. If a natural circulation through the economizer is desired, the double coupling is employed for connecting two adjacent header sections with the adjacent ends of two manifold sections. In this case the manifold sections :are in communication through the coupling, thus bringing all the header sections into communication with each other through the manifolds. This will give a natural circulation through the eoonomizer. If it is desired to change to a forced circulation, then the double coupling may be removed, and two single coupling pipes employed for connecting the two adjacent header sections with the adjacent ends of two manifold sections. In this case the two .adjacent manifold sections are not in communication, and

the water in passing from one manifold section to another must pass through the vertical pipes connected with the header sections,

in which case a forced circulation is secured.

Further features of the invention relate to certain features of construction and arrangement whereby various parts of the apparatus are rendered conveniently accessible, and whereby the upper manifold and the delivery pipes may be conveniently arranged and located in accordance with the conditions under which the apparatus is to be installed.

pipes 4:, through which The various features of the invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse elevation partly in section showing an economizer embody- 'ing the various features of the invent-ion in their preferred form; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the economizer shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the upper part of the economizer; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the rear end of an upper header;

and Fig. :5 is an elevation partly in section of the rear end of an upper header, showing a modified form of coupling pipe for connecting the upper header with the upper manifold.

The economizer shown in the drawings comprises a series "of lower headers 1, a corresponding series of upper headers 2, and series of vertical tubes 3' connecting each lower header with its corresponding upper header. The lower headers are connected at their forward ends by manifolds or branch the lower headers are in communication with each other. The vertical pipes are connected with the headers and the lower headers are connected directly with the lower manifolds or branch pipes. This manner of connecting is fully shown and described in the patent to Burpee, No. 729,273, May 26, 1903. Openings are formed in the upper headers directly over the vertical pipes 3, and are closed by caps 5 in the manner shown and described in said patent.

Each upper header is provided at its rear end with an upward extension 6, in the upper end of which a tapered joint seat 7 is formed. Each header is connected with a rear manifold or branch pipe 8 by a coupling pipe 9, the ends of which are provided with tapered joint seats 10, one of which engages the joint seat 7 in a header, and the other of which engages one of a series of joint seats 11 formed in one side of the manifold. The coupling with flanges 12 adjacent to the oint seats 10,

pipe 9 is provided and the headers and manifolds are provided with flanges l3 and 14 adjacent to the joint :seats 7 and 11 respectively. The joint seats are drawn firmly together by bolts 15 which pass through holes in the flanges and are engaged by nuts 16. By this construction the upper headers are independently connected with the upper manifolds or branch pipes, and metal to metal joints are provided which will effectively withstand high presssures while allowing the expansion and con traction of the parts caused by variations in temperature.

The extensions 6 are preferably formed directly over the rear tubes 3, so that the rear tubes may be inserted through the openings formed in the extensions, and so that these tubes may be readily accessible in case it is necessary to remove them, by merely removing one of the coupling pipes 9. In the construction shown, provision is made for arranging the vertical pipes so that they are staggered in adjacent sections by employing coupling pipes 9 of different length, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2.

If in setting up the economizer it is found that a coupling pipe when connected with a header and the manifold, brings the vertical tubes out of proper alinement, this cou pling pipe may be disconnected and another coupling pipe substituted which varies slightly from the first coupling pipe, and thus by selecting the proper coupling pipe the header may be connected with the manifold so as to bring the vertical tubes into proper alinement. Thus the slight varia tions in different headers and coupling pipes, due to inaccuracies in the manufacture of the parts, may be compensated for, and all the headers be connected with the manifolds in proper alinement. By furnishing a few extra coupling pipes when shipping the parts of an economizer, the accurate connection of the parts may be insured.

In order to provide for expansion and contraction, the upper manifold is formed in sections, each section being provided with a number of joint seats, so that a plurality of headers may be connected with each manifold section. The manifold sections may be provided with any desired number of joint seats. The manifold sections, as shown at the left in Fig. 2, for instance, are provided with four joint seats, so that four headers may be connected to each manifold section, while the manifold section at the right in Fig. 2 is provided with eight joint seats, so that eight headers may be connected to the manifold section. In order that the manifold sections may be in communication with one another without interfering with the expansion and contraction of the apparatus, double couplings are provided for connecting adjacent headers with the manifold sections, and for connecting the adjacent ends of two manifold sections. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, these double couplings consist of two coupling pipes 17 and 18 united by an integral cross pipe 19. The ends of the coupling pipes 17 and 18 are provided with tapered joint seats and flanges similar to the tapered joint seats and flanges on the coupling pipes 9, and these joint seats are so arranged with relation to each other that the joint seats on the ends of the pipe 18 will engage the joint seats at the end of one of the manifold sections and the joint seat at the end of a header, while the joint seats at the end of the coupling pipe 17 will engage the joint seats at the end of the next adjacent header and manifold section. With this form of double coupling, the tapered joint seats may be employed which rotatively engage each other, and the parts of the coupling may be so arranged that the parts of the joint rotate slightly with relation to each other as the coupling bends or springs during the relative movement of the coupled parts, due to expansion and contraction. In case the ends of adjacent manifold sections are to be comparatively far apart, as indicated at the center of Fig. 2, a coupling may be used having a comparatively long connecting pipe.

When the manifold sections are connected by the double couplings described, they are in communication with each other through the couplings, and the economizer is in condition for what is known as natural circulation of the water through the pipes. In case it is desired to connect the sections of the economizer to secure what is known as forced circulation, this may be readily done by removing the double coupling and substituting therefor two single coupling pipes. In such case the manifold sections will be in communication with each other through the headers and vertical tubes, and the cir culation will be in one direction through the vertical tubes connected with one manifold section, and in the opposite direction through the tubes connected with the next adjacent manifold section.

In order that the outlet (or inlet) pipe of the economizer may be connected with the upper manifold in different positions, according to the conditions under which the installation is made, the manifold sections are provided at each end with additional joint seats 20 arranged opposite to the end joint seats with which the coupling pipes for the headers are connected. The port through these coupling seats may be closed when the seats are not used to receive the joint seat of the outlet pipe, by means of caps 21.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the coupling pipes are in the form of elbows which turn through an angle of 180 so that the joint seats in the ends of the headers and the joint seats in the manifold sections are in parallel or substantially the same planes. Other forms of coupling pipes may be employed, or the angle through which the coupling elbows extends may be varied as desired. For instance, coupling elbows which extend through an angle of 90 may be provided, so that the joint seats in the manifold sections will be in a plane at substantially right angles to the joint seats in the ends of the headers, as indicated in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a novel form of combined outlet pipe and coupling pipe is shown. As here shown, the coupling and outlet pipe comprises an elbow 22, having joint seats on its opposite ends adapted to engage the joint seat in the end of a header and in a manifold section to a header and manifold section. This elbow is provided with an outlet extension 28 and with a flange 2i by which it may be connected with the end of a pipe leading to or from the econoinrzer.

In Fig. 5 the outlet (or inlet) for the upper manifold is through a pipe .25 provided with a tapered joint seat engaging the tapered joint seat 20 in the end of the mam? fold opposite the joint sea-t through which connection is made with the end header of the economizer.

The nature and object of the invention having been explained, and the preferred form of the invention having been specifically described, what is claimed is 1. A fuel economic-er, having, in combi nation, upper and lower headers, series of circulating pipes connecting corresponding upper and lower headers, the :end pipes in adjacent series being .connected with the headers at different distances from the ends so that the .series of pipes are staggered, joint seats in the top of each of the upper headers in line with the end circulating tubes, a manifold having joint .seats .arranged out of line with the header joint seats and corresponding thereto, and integral elbow pipes having joint seats at their ends to engage the header and manifold joint seats and connect the headers with the manifold, substantially as .described.

2. A fuel economizer, having, in combination, upper and lower headers, series of circulating tubes connecting corresponding upper and lower headers, a taper joint seat in the top of .each of the upper series of headers, a manifold having corresponding taper joint seats out of line with the header joint seats, and .coupling pipes provided at their ends with taper joint seats to engage the header and manifold joint seats and connect the headers with the manifold, substantially as described.

3. A fuel economizer, having, in combination, upper and lower headers, series of circulating tubes connecting corresponding upper and lower headers, a taper oint seat in the top of each of the upper series of headers, a manifold having corresponding taper joint seats out of line with the header joint seats, and coupling elbows having taper joint seats at their ends to engage the header and manifold joint seats and connect the headers with the manifold, substantially as described.

4. A fuel economizer, having, in combination, upper and lower headers, series of circulating tubes connecting corresponding upper and lower headers, joint seats in two adjacent headers, manifold sections .having corresponding joint seats, and a coupling having joint seats for engaging :the joint seats of the two adjacent headers and the joint seats :of :the two adjacent manifold sections, substantially as descrlbed.

5. A fuel economizer, having, 1n comb nation, upper and lower headers, series of circulating tubes connecting corresponding upper and lower headers, taper joint seats in two adjacent headers, manifold sections having corresponding taper joint seats, a coupling having taper joint seats to engage the joint seats in the two adjacent headers, and the j oint-seats in the two adjacent manifold sections, substantially as described.

6. A fuel economizer, having, in combination, upper and lower headers, series of circulating tubes connecting corresponding upper and lower headers, taper joint'seats in two vadjacent headers, manifold sections having corresponding taper joint seats, and a coupling elbow provided with taper joint seats to engage the joint seats in the two adjacent headers and the joint seats in the two adjacent manifold sections, substantially as described.

'7. A fuel economizer, having, in combination, a series of headers, manifold sections adjacent the said headers, an integral double coupling provided with four comrnunicating joint seats arranged to connect a pair of adjacent headers with adjacent manifold sections, substantially as de-. scribed.

8. A fuel economizer, having, in combination, a series of headers, manifold sections adjacent the said headers, a coupling comprising two pipes provided intermediate their ends with .an integral connectingpipe and provided :at'their ends with taper joint seats, said headers and manifolds being also provided with taper joint seats whereby adjacent header sections can be connected to adjacent manifolds.

9. A fuel economizer, having, in combination, upper and lower headers, series of circulating .tubes connecting corresponding upper .and lower headers, a joint seat in each of one series of headers in line with a circulating tube, a manifold provided with joint seats corresponding to the headerjoint seats, and coupling elbows provided with joint seats to engage the joint seats in the header and manifold, substantially as described.

10. A fuel econcmizer, having, in combination, upper and lower headers, series of circulating tubes connecting corresponding upper and lower headers, a joint seat in each of one series of headers,a manifold having a series of oint seats in one side corresponding to the header joint seats, coupling pipes having joint seats to engage the header and manifold joint seats and connect the headers with the manifolds and joint seats at the ends of the manifolds opposite the joint seats for the coupling pipes,

substantially as described.

11. A fuel economizer, having in combination, upper and lower headers, series of circulating tubes connecting corresponding upper and lower headers, taper joint seats in the top of each of the upper series of headers, manifold sections having corresponding taper joint seats out of line with the header joint seats, and an integral double coupling consisting of two elbows having taper joint seats at their ends for engaging the joint seats of the two adjacent headers and the joint seat-s of the two adjacent manifold sections and a connecting cross-pipe between the elbows, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST B. FREEMAN.

Witnesses:

IRA L. FISH, ANNIE C. RICHARDSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

